Developing relationships with college professors can be beneficial in many ways for your student. Not only will they probably do better in the class, but also building relationships with professors may lead to future research opportunities, great letters of recommendation, and having a mentor in your student’s field of interest. If they plan to ask for a letter of recommendation for grad school, internships, or jobs it is essential that strong relationships with one or more professors are created.

Sending your student off to college is a milestone. And your relationship with your student will change. But that change may not be what you expect – or fear. As most parents worry about their changing relationship with their student, they think about what they may lose. They may not think about it improving and becoming even more fulfilling.

“I hate it here. I want to come home.” These nine words, uttered by a brand new college freshman, will break a parent’s heart. We watched our kids work hard, we supported them in their journey to college, we dropped off an excited teen only weeks ago and…now this. They are homesick.

The transition to becoming a college parent isn’t sudden. Let’s begin by thinking about who this new college student is, and what your role in their college experience might be.